The Pros and Cons of the Paleo Diet

The Pros andThe paleo diet is an awesome diet that has thousands of fans all over the world. Books on this subject have become bestsellers. People have lost weight, reduced allergies, gained control of their health issues like diabetes, cholesterol, etc. and much more with the paleo diet. In fact, it is considered one of the best diets around.

However, no diet is perfect and the paleo diet is no different. It has its pros and cons which this article will discuss. You will have to decide for yourself if the pros outweigh the cons. Thousands of people decided that it did and adopted this diet. 

First, you will need to understand the paleo diet. It is a diet that is more concerned with food choices rather than calories, nutrient timing, carb cycling, detoxing, etc. In theory, the paleo diet is simple. Eat these foods and avoid these other foods. All you need to do is follow the food list. In practice, however, the paleo diet is extremely difficult in the beginning because it involves sacrifice. Nobody likes that.

You are encouraged to eat grass-fed meats such as beef, poultry, bison, turkey, pork, etc. Fish is good too. Especially wild salmon that is rich in omega-3 fatty oils. You may consume fruit and non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, green beans, spinach, etc. You may consume nuts such as pecans, almonds, walnuts and cashews. Peanuts are NOT allowed.

Eggs and plant based oils are also encouraged. Coconut oil, olive oil, macadamia oil, etc. are sources of fat. These foods are an integral part of the paleo diet.

The foods that are not allowed are grains, such as oats, wheat, barley, and rice. You’re also not allowed to consume starchy vegetables, such as potatoes and corn. All dairy products are not allowed. Sugar, processed meats such as hot dogs, salami, etc. are a big no-no. Salty food, processed foods, refined foods are all not allowed.

This eliminates a huge chunk of foods that people are normally used to eating. This is one of the biggest pros of the paleo diet. Most of the foods not allowed are unhealthy and some foods such as soya beans and grains just do not go down well with most people.

The paleo diet is rich in protein and it keeps your blood sugar levels stable and prevents insulin spikes. This prevents weight gain. The diet is also very clean and that means it is anti-inflammatory. Most people on normal diets often complain of aches and pains for no reason. This is due to cell inflammation from food that is not good. No such problems with the paleo diet. These are some of the pros of the paleo diet.

There are a few cons. This diet is not suitable for vegetarians. Paleo dieters often do not balance their meals well. Too much protein is consumed without adequate carbs. So, they’ll need to carefully keep track of what they eat. When food choices are limited, more attention is required to keep the diet balanced. The paleo diet can seem too rigid and strict to many people. So, many drop off the diet. 

You will need to assess your goals and weigh your options. If you’re willing to make sacrifices for better health and fewer health issues, you definitely want to adopt the paleo diet. It is well worth the effort.